[Winona Online Democracy]
On May 3, 2005, at 22:39, Dwayne Voegeli wrote:
[Winona Online Democracy]
http://www.startribune.com/stories/1592/5382316.html
Winona teen tests the limits of free speech at school
James Walsh, Star Tribune
May 4, 2005
What I find disturbing about this entire situation is the absolutely unnecessary level of continuing escalation of the situation that the high school has taken with this and other recent "extracurricular activities."
---
The statements from police and the administration in Tuesday's paper stating that students violating administration's fiat would be arrested for trespassing seemed a bit excessive. (That is Minnesota Statute 609.605 for those of you interested. http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/stats/609/605.html )
I did not hear about Minnesota being traded to China. In the interest of fairness, I hope the US Government received a few good draft picks or Taiwan in that trade. So, assuming a trade of Minnesota to China has not taken place, why is it necessary for such heavy handed tactics? Administrative impotence? Why threaten arrests with a charge that makes no sense at first glance when more obvious practical alternatives exist?
Eight police officers for forty protesters?
Alternative bus drop off points?
How many other ridiculous precautions did the police and school take "to protect" that the WDN did not unearth?
The group of protesters are being treated as they are terrorists. Why? To quote John Stossel, "Gimmie a break!"
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Wait a minute, I am over reacting. After all, the administration is letting them start a group. They are being very accommodative and the students are all lucky they still can go to school. Yes, they are being very reasonable. A women's study group, the magic panacea to the silence of violence. Or... are they being reasonable? Let's translate that statement to what is really being said by the school administration since they have utilized that fig leaf quite frequently. What they are really saying amounts to:
What you really do not understand is quite
simple: We are granting you the women's
studies or issues group not to exercise your
"rights," but to get the issue shuffled away
so we do not have to deal with your "problem."
You or anyone else with an opinion is nothing
more than a headache for us.The administration's position does not suite the issue, because the solution offered by the administration only continues the problem brought up by the H. S. students. The H. S. students have observed the dark hidden nature of violence against women and the administration's solution only amounts to a "Final Solution" by seeking to keep it hidden. Therefore, the administration's claim of attempting to rectify the situation with a compromise is a sham because no compromise has been offered. The only compromise has been by the students. It is embarrassing that officials would make claims of compromise when the offer made is contrary to the points illustrated by the students and every claim of settlement is followed by further escalation.
The administration is lucky the students did not call the obvious bluff and force 40 suspensions. School Suspends 40 Students, More students Walkout in Protest --That would have been a great headline.
David Dittmann
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